Hey, Mary Kay: I fail to see how the team gains any advantage from applying the transition tag (on Alex Mack). The Vikings and Seahawks engaged in shenanigans with the tag several years ago. The contract for Steve Hutchinson was fully guaranteed if he wasn't the team's highest paid lineman. Seattle had Walter Jones and the contract was unmatchable. (The Browns have Joe Thomas being paid quite well.) And the contract for Nate Burleson was similar, but the trigger was games played in Minnesota. Couldn't any team create a contract that would be effectively impossible for the Browns to match (i.e. Games played in Ohio as the trigger)? Why wouldn't they just risk the extra million plus for the franchise tag if the transition tag can be circumvented by a team with the smallest amount of creativity? - Leroy McLemore, Elyria, Ohio

Hey, Leroy: I agree, it might've been better for the Browns to use the franchise tag so he wouldn't have as much of an opportunity to visit with teams next week and either receive offers or get a jump on free agency for next year. A team can really sell itself to Mack for either this year or the next. If he likes what he sees out there, but is afraid the Browns will match, he can decline the offers and play under the transition tag. I do expect longtime agent Marvin Demoff to help craft a deal that might be hard for the Browns to match, but they have $49 million in cap space and have identified Mack as their No. 1 priority this off-season. Granted, Mack is taking a risk if he plays under the transition tag, but he's never missed a snap in five years. The tag gives the Browns a chance to keep Mack whereas otherwise they surely would've lost him.

Hey, Mary Kay: Perhaps I'm skeptical that this Cleveland front office team will be able to attract top free agents, but I'm a little concerned they are more interested in Jairus Byrd than they are in retaining TJ Ward. It seems to me that they can guarantee TJ Ward, as the second best free agent safety, stays in Cleveland. With Byrd there are no guarantees, even if Pettine was his coach last year. I would take that guarantee. How much of an upgrade can Byrd really be? -- Jason White, Leesburg, Va.

Hey, Jason: New head coaches always like to have a player or two around that can run their system and set the tone. In that regard, Byrd would be the better safety for coach Mike Pettine. The two players have different skills, with Ward being stronger against the run and Byrd the pass, but they can't afford to sign both. I think they'll make a strong pitch for Byrd, but he's also told teammates that he really wants to stay in Buffalo.

Hey, Mary Kay: Besides trying to resign Mack and Ward, what free agents do you expect the Browns to pursue? Their needs are great and I'm sure they don't expect to fill them all in the draft. -- Henry Ortiz, Orlando, Fla.

Hey, Henry: I think they'll pursue Byrd, Texans running back Ben Tate and possibly Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. They probably would've gone after Packers cornerback Sam Shields, but the club re-signed him Saturday night. I also expect them to look for a receiver or two. The top ones include Denver's Eric Decker, the Giants' Hakeem Nicks, New England's Julian Edelman and Arizona's Andre Roberts. Maybe they'll even add Mitchell Schwartz' brother Geoff, the guard from Kansas City. Last year, they were interested in offensive tackle Eugene Monroe before the Ravens traded for him, and he's set to hit the market. With nearly $50 million in cap space, I expect the Browns to pursue some first-day big-name free agents.

Hey, Mary Kay: Do you think Alex Mack wants to be back with the Browns? -- Joe C., Sandusky, Ohio

Hey, Joe: I get the feeling that Mack is unhappy about receiving the transition tag (a guaranteed $10.039 million for 2014) and that he wants out. I think he'd love to be reunited with his longtime offensive line coach George Warhop in Tampa. His college coach Jeff Tedford is also offensive coordinator there. Mack probably also has his eye on other places, and teams such as the Ravens are expected to come calling next week. I believe all of the upheaval here got to him the same way it did to D'Qwell Jackson.

Hey, Mary Kay: Wouldn't it make sense for the Browns to take a wide receiver such as Sammy Watkins that can catch a football early in the draft? I realize that this class has a lot of talent, but wouldn't you rather have elite over good at the receiver position? In my opinion, if we take Mike Evans or Watkins with already having Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron, it will pose major problems in coverage for our opponents. -- Chris Muncie, Danville, Ohio

Hey, Chris: I do think Watkins is very worthy of the No. 4 overall pick and will most likely be on the Browns' radar. I still think they will probably draft a quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles) but Watkins would be a viable option and would form a dangerous duo with Gordon. Evans is also a big (6-5, 231) physical receiver who would add another dimension to the offense. But I think it's time to take a chance on a top-five quarterback.

Hey, Mary Kay: What do you think the Browns' philosophy is heading into free agency this year? -- Matt Wigginton, Lakewood, Ohio

Hey, Matt: I think the Browns will sign a few more free agents this year than they normally will in the Ray Farmer-Mike Pettine era, because Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will need to find players to fit their new schemes. Ultimately, they'll build through the draft, but they have plenty of money to spend this year (upwards of $50 million) and will use some of it to fill some holes. Look for a fairly active first few days.

Hey, Mary Kay: A lot is being made of Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine being a rookie GM and coach combination. I seem to recall that in Atlanta Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff were a rookie GM and coach combination. That seemed to work out. (Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan and made the playoffs that year.) Maybe some of the doomsday people will see that it can work out if the right people are in place. -- Hal Wolfe, Cincinnati

Hey, Hal: Pettine and Farmer already seem to be working very well together and are on the same page philosophically. That's good for the Browns, because it's a huge off-season for a rookie combo -- including two first-round picks and 10 overall. They also have plenty of cap room to spend and a deep free agency class, giving them plenty of chances to overhaul the roster this year.

Hey, Mary Kay: With the Browns possibly taking Sammy Watkins at No. 4, wouldn't it bring up bad memories of the 2005 draft when we unfortunately picked up Braylon Edwards at No. 3? Both ran about the same in the 40, both posted up similar stats in college. -- Rein Pold, Dillsburg, Pa.

Hey, Rein: If the Browns could get 16 touchdown catches out of Watkins for three or four years like they did out of Edwards in 2007, he wouldn't be an unfortunate pick. Besides, Watkins is more highly-rated coming out than Edwards was, and doesn't have the character concerns.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.